Leftists Hold ‘Rage Against the Cage’ During UFC Freedom 250
As President Donald Trump celebrated America’s 250th anniversary with a UFC event at the White House, opponents of the administration spent the day staging their own nationwide counterprogramming effort, complete with celebrity concerts, protests, watch parties, and organizing events designed to build momentum for future political activism.
According to internal planning documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the sprawling "No Kings" coalition used the day not only to protest Trump but also to strengthen a network of activists aimed at influencing politics through the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.
The contrast between the two events was striking.
While thousands of supporters tuned in to watch UFC Freedom 250 unfold on the White House grounds, anti-Trump groups organized hundreds of gatherings across the country under the banner of "people power." The events ranged from local watch parties and community meetings to demonstrations with names like "RAGE AGAINST THE CAGE!" and "Dump on Trump."
One of the most visible events took place in New York City, where actress Jane Fonda's Committee for the First Amendment hosted "Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment." The event featured appearances from Fonda, Patti Smith, Bette Midler, Rufus Wainwright, Joy Reid, and Wilson Cruz.
Organizers described the concert as a celebration of First Amendment freedoms, including speech, religion, assembly, and protest. However, planning documents reviewed by Fox News Digital showed that the event was also intended to serve as a recruiting tool for future organizing efforts.
The materials instructed hosts to gather attendee information, identify future leaders, recruit volunteers, schedule follow-up meetings, and build local activist networks after the day's events concluded.
One organizer guide stated that the goal was to "bring people in and move them to ongoing participation." Another instructed local hosts to determine who might assist with organizing efforts moving forward and to schedule another meeting within two weeks.
The documents suggested that organizers viewed the demonstrations as the beginning of a longer-term political effort rather than a one-day protest.
Throughout the planning materials, organizers repeatedly framed their activities as a direct response to Trump's White House celebration.
One suggested message read, "President Trump is choosing self-promotion. We're choosing community, participation and people power."
Another stated, "The main event will be in our living rooms," contrasting their activities with the UFC event taking place on White House grounds.
The coalition reportedly included approximately 400 organizations with combined annual revenues totaling billions of dollars. While organizers emphasized compliance with nonprofit regulations and repeatedly stressed a commitment to nonviolence, critics argued that the political objectives behind the effort were difficult to ignore.
The internal guidance prohibited formal partisan activity, candidate appearances, and political party sponsorships. Organizers were also required to include explicit nonviolence language in event materials, with documents warning that events would not receive approval without it.
Nevertheless, the broader messaging focused heavily on opposition to Trump and the construction of activist infrastructure capable of sustaining future political campaigns and advocacy efforts.
As the UFC event concluded at the White House and the various protests wrapped up across the country, both sides claimed success. Supporters celebrated a uniquely American spectacle tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, while organizers of the anti-Trump demonstrations pointed to the thousands of participants who took part in their events.